New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-10
OvER-zEALOUS COMMISSIONERS.
ENFORCING A SILLY AND obsolete LAW.

DAYAED's USTESABrE MISUNDERSTANDING CHAR
ACTERs IN THE DEPARTMENTS.
FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE fRfDuEEJ
WASHINGTON, April 9.-The District Commissioners
appointed by Mr.. eveland arc about to fulfil the
prediction made at the time they entered upon their
Official career. that they would soon distinguish them
selves by some exceedingly foolish proceeding. They
announce that hereafter they are going to enforce
strictly and to the letter ancient and haforgotten
law still the statute books which forbids with
insignificant exceptions the keeping open OF any place
OF business on Sunday Their sudden zeal in this
matter raises the presumption that there is somebody
who wants to strike" somebody else. II IL difhcut
to say how upon auy other ground men endowed win
common could ut this late day attempt the
thankess task OF enforcing dead-eter statute, oy
hcb nothing Is to be gained in the OF religion
good morals. II the Commissioners do as thew pre-
tend every car stable, telegraph Office newspaper
Office and cigar store will have to close, and II they
want to be considered acting mpartially they
ought to lock up the clubhouse The idea OF enforc-
ing obsolete provision OF the statutes for the purpose
of showing that it ought to be formally repealed Is
silly The obsoetcuess of the law is enough IN tsei
to prove its uselessness.
II seems scarcely worth while to draw attention TO
.he fact were it not tor the inspired defence made by
an Administration journal in behalf OF the State De-
partment that the claim Mr. Bayard that his extern
siou OF the geographical benefit not to certain
which happen to touch their voyage to the United
States ports in the countries named under the Dingey
Snpping act not borne out by the facts and by the
practice OF tho Treasury Department. The Treasury
Department has repeatedly ruled that foreign vessels
sailing tor the United States and stopping on Their
way che ports indicated EMIT ed to reduced
OF the tonnage tax but must pay the full cents
charged. Mr. Bayard still remains in the uncou tort
aDle position of refusing to concede what Henri, Clay
before him compelled Sweden to surrender under ex'
actly similar conditions and circumstances he is will
ing TO take but unwilling to give.
The Departments are in q measure asylums TOR the
eccentric and the unsuccessful They form eddies in
which all sorts of human driftwood collect In the
Quartermaste err Generals Office there is clerk who
asks TO be excused every Saturday. He has sde up
his mind alter careful consideration OF the subject
that Saturday the rne Sabbath and therefore that "
is wicked 70 work that day. AS he - only entitled
thirty days leave with pay in the year. his brother
clerks interested in the question whether he viii
take lease without pay Tor the remaining Saturdays
after his thirty days have been used up. AT latest
quotations the pools selling three to two the
victory of religious over pecuniary scrlpes. 1hls
recent convert TO the creed OF the Seven-Day Baptists
is a man OF fine education and wide information, but
he lacked the something necessary tor success and
driited into the Department service lie has score
OF languages at his command and traces his name way
back TO MacFarlan the chief OF clan who lifted
cattle the Scottish border in the ninth century,
volume OF veto messages" of the President Of
the United States with the action OF Congress thereon
compiled by order OF the 81 nate by Ben Perey Poore,
clerk OF printing records arranged in chronological
order with explanatory notes and index, has Just been
published. The volume contains vast amount OF
interesting information UntoItu tuna ely, however, one
OF the most important Presidential yetoes that 1y
President Arthur, returning with his objections the
Fitz John Porter bl is omitted, doubtless by acci-
dent. 1t will be remembered that oh July =, 1884,
President Arthur vetoed the Fitz John Porter bill
the ground that il either unnecessary and in
effective il in yoved encfoachment by the egis
latve branch OF the Government upon the authority
OF the Executive" Upon the motion to the bill
the objections OF the President to the contrary not
withsanding the vote the House stood 16S yeas 10
~ nays and in the Senate the vote % yeas to -
nays, two-tbirs majority necessary TO pass the
bill over the veto.
Colonel Lamont sa, that successor TO Marshal
Tate, of BROOKLYN, il not likely TO be appointed
soon. | hear that the Democratic factions in the
City OF Churches are unable TO agree upon candi-
date, and until they settle The matter among them.
selves the President is not likely 20 interfere with
the present incumbent